The Art of Japanese Coffee Tradition
Photo taken by Luke Porter
The Japanese have a long history with coffee. Coffeeshops are becoming increasingly popular in contemporary Japanese society. While Dutch and Portuguese traders introduced it earlier in history, during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, it quickly became fashionable at the turn of the twentieth century. Social coffee shops are popular in Japan because they provide a welcoming space for people to gather and relax, away from the pressures of work or school. Caffeine culture is also shaped by interactions between customers and baristas and everyday behaviors like taking time for "work breaks" or business meetings over a cup of coffee. The economic impact of this widespread import and consumption cannot be understated.
Japanese Coffee Culture
Coffee culture in Japan is particularly unique, and one exciting custom is that coffee cups are served with the handle to the left of the drinker. At the same time, spoons face to the right. Because coffee originally comes from foreign countries, in Japan, coffee drinking is generally associated with having a western or foreign identity. This association led to coffee being banned during WWII. Nowadays, famous western franchise coffee shops like Starbucks are seen and enjoyed by the Japanese people in the same way as they would enjoy going to Disneyland. The first Starbucks location outside of America was located in Japan. In postwar Japan, Western goods and items were symbolic of the country's new middle class. This group included high-end coffee equipment as well as ground coffee. In the world of post-war Japan, jazz cafés and the coffee they sold, were examples of Japan's efforts to modernize its culture and society in the style of Western nations. Coffee shops also functioned as cultural attractions for progressive kids in the 1960s and 1970s, when they served as meeting places for feminist movements and anti-government protests.
EarlyJapanese coffeehouses served mainly black coffee and tea, unlike traditional tea houses. They also provided leisurely activities such as tobacco and newspapers - all encouraging customers to stay for a while. The decor often featured art deco style, modern for its time.
Japanese coffee shops have increasingly become decorated with more flashy, modern trends primarily seen in larger cities. These new coffee shops boast simple decor with clean lines and colors that complement one another-- some might even call it mid-century modern.
Coffee became popular again after World War II.
It was only in 1969, however, that Ueshima reinvented canned coffee for mass consumption in the market. As a result, many have followed suit. Coca-Cola launched Georgia as their coffee brand, while Suntory introduced Boss as their coffee band. Nescafe is a prominent brand produced by Nestle, while JapanTobacco created Roots. Nestle's Nescafe and Japan Tobacco's Roots are two of the most well-known Japanese brands.
When it comes to coffee, how has the west influenced traditionalist Japan?
Even though the Japanese people tend to be nationalistic, Western culture's influence on the country is still significant. This can be seen in how Boss and Roots, another coffee company, hired Hollywood celebrities like Tommy Lee Jones and Brad Pitt to promote their products. Doutor Company was the first to open a coffee chain in 1980 and is still active today. Doutor also brought the idea of "to-go" coffee to Japanese consumers, allowing them to take their coffee wherever they went. Japanese have adapted English terms for coffee-related industries, such as "roast," "drip," and "americano," rather than creating new words using their language.
